Closing Tabs and a Book Rec

Write about superheroes? No. I could write about Bella, my dog, and her obsession with penguins? No. 

How I have too many tabs open (on Chrome) and it's stressing me out? No. 

UGH! I don't know what to write about. I've been blogging for years. Maybe I've run out of things to say. No. I know that isn't true, but I'm stuck and I think I'm too focused on making it "good" and "worthy". I hear my own annoying advice rattling around in my head, "Just show up and write!" so here I am. 

Um....

Yeah, I....

Arrrggghhhh!!! This writing thing isn't easy. You know what's ironic? I've been writing (not on my blog) a lot recently. How do I balance different kinds of writing? I have to switch off what I'm writing over there and really be present here. I guess it's like reading more than one book at a time.

Oh, and that reminds me, I'm reading an AMAZING book that every single educator I know should read! It's called Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom. 

This book....there's so much inside these pages. I'm savoring the message and meandering through the chapters so as to soak up every syllable. The ideas inspire me and I'm doodling all over the pages. I'll write more about it when I'm done, but if you don't know this book or don't have it....RUN and get it....NOW!

I have one more thought this morning before I post this. Why does Grammarly insist that my ellipses use four, instead of three, periods?!?! Grammarly is a free add-on for Chrome and it frequently reminds me that I use the incorrect prepositions and stink at commas. 

This post is a mash-up of randomness. It's not great, but it's done and sometimes that has to be enough....and I've closed all those extraneous tabs. Just closed them. Ahhh, that feels good!

This is Bella

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers.

Good Morning! This is Bella. I am writing this blog post this morning because my mommy can't figure out what to write. She is struggling, so I decided to help her. I am going to write about our weekend. We had a wonderful weekend, but some weird things were happening!

Saturday was perfect. We took a long walk. I sniffed lots of good smells and enjoyed myself.

When we came home, Mommy and I played with my toys and then we cuddled together for a little while. I settled down to rest and all of the sudden there was all of this commotion. Mommy was taking things off of the shelves. All the things were coming off of the shelves. 

She was surrounded. I couldn't get to her. I paced back and forth while she moved things around. Some of the things on the shelves went into bags and into the garage and other things just went back onto the shelves. Finally, she was done!

Suddenly, it was happening again. This time, she was taking everything out of the closet. 

How big is that closet?!?! Things just kept coming out. 

Finally she moved things around, lots of it went into bags and into the garage and the rest returned to the closet. 

I didn't like this at all! There's too much craziness!!! Why is she doing this? When will it be over? Ahhhh, I thought, we are done.  We walked upstairs to my bedroom. It's my favorite room in the house! My crate is in there and Mommy's bed too! As I was deciding if I should go into my bed or rest on her's, once again clothes started flying around. 

What is happening?!?! I started worrying. Is she leaving?!?! She moves clothes around like this before she leaves me. I couldn't stop pacing...I started panting. I wanted to yell, "MOMMY, STOP!" but I don't talk. I watched her carefully...every moment. It lasted all day. She even started again on Sunday.  Finally, Monday we are done. No bags. No stuff. No chaos. Just rest. Me and my mommy. Together. I guess overall it was a good weekend. 

Celebration in Pictures!

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for the opportunity to focus on celebrations every week! September 19 will mark our 100th celebration! Please join us!

Today begins a new month. August. This week I celebrate...

quiet mornings

school supply sales

laughter

ice cream

sparkly lights

reflecting

looking

planning

Hope this post finds you in a happy place! 

What are you celebrating today?

Celebrating Growth and Struggle

Each week on Saturday 

bloggers celebrate at Ruth Ayres Writes. 

Won't you join us? 

So much to celebrate this week! Last Saturday I added a new member to my family...my dog, Bella. Today marks a week that we've been together and the adjustment is going well, mostly. (I forgot how hard the beginning part of this can be.) She's settling in and feeling comfortable...this morning, she even jumped up and sat in my lap to cuddle for a bit.

Sunday arrived and I got to meet one of my blogging friend IRL...in real life! Catherine was close by and we met for brunch on Sunday. How amazing it was to spend time talking with someone and sharing stories about teaching, books, and life! What a perfect way to spend a Sunday!!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I have an amazing mother. She is sweet and smart and funny and kind and cute and I love her so much! We talk every morning and it's the perfect way to start my day! Living far away from her can be hard...sometimes I just want my mom, but she's always there for me! Like this...

I'm blessed with more mother figures in my life! My aunts always have been there for me and whether they know it or not, they have been role models and confidants for me. My life is so much richer because of them! 

Don't want to forget my amazing grandmothers...

Mother's Day also brings pain for me. Pain of what's lacking... I'm grateful for so many children in my life...my wonderfully smart and sweet nephew, Jack and my beautiful and spunky niece, Jillian! 

Yesterday, a good friend sent me a card that made me smile...

Slice of Life: Introducing Bella

Slice of Life Challenge

Please join the challenge over at Two Writing Teachers!

Lazy Saturdays are my favorites! It was the last weekend of the poetry workshop with Chris Lehman and the amazing TeacherPoets. Being part of that workshop was such an amazing experience and I'm so sad to see it end! After the workshop, I jumped in my car and headed out. My hands shook as I drove and I found myself holding my breath, hoping everything would work out. After an endless eleven mile drive, I turned into the driveway and parked. Saying a silent prayer, I hopped out and sprinted to the door. After a kind greeting, I barked, I'd like to see a dog to adopt.  Down the hall and to the right.  I walked into the kennel where all of the dogs were and she was the first one I saw...relaxed and lounging on a doggie cot. She jumped up and licked my fingers. Her. I want her! I had picked her out online and my eyes didn't notice any of the other dogs. We visited for a bit. I filled out the papers. Left to pick up supplies and that's it...she's mine! Bella (formerly Belle) came home with me Saturday afternoon. She's a year and a half old (approximately, she was found scrounging for food in a parking lot). She's part hound and part beagle and she is perfect!  As I type this, she's fast asleep in her crate. She loves belly rubs and talking long walks! She's friendly and energetic and she's a love! I honestly thought it would take me much longer to get another dog after Leo, but she's the one! 

Bella

Look at that beautiful face!

She loves looking at the window!